This year has been such a strange one with lockdowns and travel restrictions, not knowing whether it is safe to leave the house or not. This is the time of year, people in the UK usually start thinking about a winter sun holiday but maybe it’s wiser to stay in the UK this year. There are so many beautiful places and here are some ideas for a secluded domestic holiday in Windermere.
Make sure you keep an eye on the government websites for the latest travel advice and COVID guidelines. You can find the government guidelines here and the Lake District guidelines here.
We love Windermere and have always visited at least a couple of times a year, getting a hotel in Windermere for a couple of nights. Windermere is the largest natural lake in England. More than 11 miles in length, and almost 1 mile at its widest. Windermere and Bowness-On-Windermere have a selection of cobbled streets to walk, cafes, restaurants and shops including Joules and Mountain Warehouse.
The World of Beatrix Potter is a vibrant family attraction bringing to life Beatrix Potter’s enchanting stories in a magical recreation of the beautiful Lake District countryside. The exhibition is in the centre of Windermere and features favourite characters from the famous books, an award-winning outdoor Peter Rabbit Garden, a superb character-themed family-friendly café and world-famous gift shop ensuring all generations of visitors can experience a little bit of Beatrix Potter magic. They have done everything possible to ensure their visitors are safe whilst enjoying the wonderful experience on offer. With the new measures in place, they estimate a visit will take between 35 – 40 minutes and queueing as well as some browsing time in the shop.
You can take a boat across the lake which is beautiful. We always get off the boat at Brockhole on Windermere. It is a not-for-profit attraction run by the Lake District National Park Authority. All profits go towards keeping it special for future generations. It is such a lovely place to walk around and perfect for all abilities, prams etc. You can hire canoes, go tree-top climbing, play in the play area and mini-golf. There is also a gift shop and cafe.
You can also use the boat the get to Lakeside to visit the Lakes Aquarium and the Lakeside railway. The aquarium visitor numbers will be limited each day and everyone will need to book online. To keep visitors and staff as safe as possible, whilst giving you the best experience possible when you visit the aquarium, they’ve stripped back to focus on the bare necessities.
I have been on the railway a couple of years ago and Lucas loved it. The branch line runs 3.2 miles long, you can stop off in various villages and explore. The railway staff have been working hard to apply the safety measures needed to enable you to visit with confidence, complying at all times with government guidelines. The train service is back in steam, however, this will not be their usual service and they will be running on a reduced timetable to ensure the safety of all involved.
In collaboration with Hotels.com, but all views are my own